CPL US Army Air Corps, Juanita Torivio Sawtrom
Born: July 18, 1901
Died: November 20, 1975
Burial Site: SFNC, Section 6A, Site 327
Awards
Juanita Torivio Sawtrom enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) in Santa Fe, New Mexico on August 5, 1943. 1, 2 She was sent to the WAC Training Center at Daytona Beach where she was trained as a cook. 3 In 1943, the Gallup Independent reported that she missed the food and dancing from her home. 4 She was then assigned to General G.C. Kenney’s Far East Air Forces and was stationed at Manila in the Philippines as well as New Guinea. 5, 6 On October 25, 1945, at Beale California, she was honorably discharged from the Army. Torivio Sawtrom was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the WAAC Service Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. 7
Torivio Sawtrom was born at Acomita, New Mexico, to Antonio and Lupe Torivio. 8 She was a member of Acoma Pueblo and attended the Albuquerque Indian School. 4 She married Harold Sawtrom of Laguna Pueblo. 9
Images & Documents
Sawtrom, Juanita Torovio D1
“Two Join WAACs,” The Albuquerque Tribune, June 10, 1943, 6. Newspapers.com.
Sawtrom, Juanita Torovio D2
“News of Our Men and Women in Uniform,” The Gallup Independent, August 19, 1943, 2. Newspapers.com.
Sawtrom, Juanita Torovio D3
“Pacific WAACs in Anniversary,” The South Bend Tribune, June 6, 1945, 9. Newspapers.com.
Sawtrom, Juanita Torovio D4
New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Subsubseries: Military Discharges; Box Number: 16644; Box Title: Military Discharges Thomas – Torrez
Sawtrom, Juanita Torovio D5
New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Subsubseries: Photographs; Box Number: 18486; Box Title: Photographs, individuals – by file number 288 – 301
Notes:
- 1. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.Ancestry.com.
2. “Two Join WAACs,” The Albuquerque Tribune, June 10, 1943, 6. Newspapers.com.
3. “Indians Join WACs,” Tampa Bay Times, August 18, 1943, 1. Newspapers.com.
4. “News of Our Men and Women in Uniform,” The Gallup Independent, August 19, 1943, 2. Newspapers.com.
5. “Women in Uniform,” Albuquerque Journal, June 6, 1945, 7. Newspapers.com.
6. “Pacific WAACs in Anniversary,” The South Bend Tribune, June 6, 1945. Newspapers.com.
7. New Mexico Commission of Public Records, State Records Center and Archives; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Subsubseries: Military Discharges; Box Number: 16644; Box Title: Military Discharges Thomas – Torrez
8. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Ancestry.com.
9. “Harold A Sawtrom (1918-1991).” Find a Grave. Accessed July 18, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3881090/harold-a-sawtrom.
Featured Image:
“Juanita Torivio Sawtrom (1922-1995).” Find a Grave. Accessed March 12, 2023. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1154116/juanita-torivio-sawtrom.
Prepared by Sue Ruth, Ph.D., Central New Mexico Community College